Chapter 147

Outside the window, the north wind howled. Warm lamplight filled the room, driving away the chill of the winter night.

Xie Zheng gazed at the clear-eyed young woman illuminated by the candlelight. The dark, scarred emotions weighing on his heart seemed miraculously soothed. He slowly lifted a hand and, under Fan Changyu's startled gaze, pulled her into his arms.

His dark eyes remained calmly fixed on a point in the distance, yet beneath that calmness lurked emotions far more frightening.

"It's only the Han family. There will be plenty of chances to deal with them later. The prison break has already alerted the Dali Temple's officers tonight. It isn't suitable to go to the Han residence now. Get some sleep. At fifth watch, I'll take you back to the Provincial Hostel."

Once she returned to the Provincial Hostel, every move she made would undoubtedly be under the imperial family's watchful eye.

For Fan Changyu to come out tonight, she had once again disguised herself as a guard sent out by the hostel to purchase supplies. At dawn, the kitchen staff would go out to buy ingredients again, and she could change clothes and slip back in with them.

Leaning half against Xie Zheng's chest, Fan Changyu wasn't sleepy at all after breaking someone out of prison. The way he held the back of her neck made it difficult for her to raise her head, so she could only tilt her chin up awkwardly.

"I'm not tired right now. If the steward from Prince Changxin's residence is still in prison, why don't we strike while the iron is hot and rescue him too?"

When she said this with complete sincerity, her large black-and-white eyes wide open, she resembled a diligent student calmly announcing to her teacher that she was about to commit arson and murder.

Xie Zheng's hand, which had been stroking her hair, froze.

Several breaths passed before he spoke.

Fan Changyu asked awkwardly, "Can't we?"

Xie Zheng raised a hand to rub his temple. Looking down at her, the corners of his lips unconsciously curved upward.

"Not tonight. The Dali Temple is not like ordinary government prisons. Once it's put on lockdown, not even a fly can get out. Although many soldiers have been sent throughout the city to search for the prison breakers, most of them belong to the Five Cities Military Command. The Dali Temple itself won't weaken its defenses. Going there now would be walking straight into a trap."

Fan Changyu scratched her cheek.

"Alright."

She wasn't familiar with the military deployments in the capital. She had assumed many of the Dali Temple's officers had already been drawn away tonight, making this the perfect opportunity for another surprise rescue.

Xie Zheng glanced at her.

"It seems you haven't been studying military strategy very diligently."

Fan Changyu scratched her head.

"I've only been back in the capital for a short time. I've been stuck in the Provincial Hostel every day, so I don't really know the responsibilities of the various government offices. In the army, I would never act rashly. A battle concerns the lives of hundreds, even thousands of soldiers. If I weren't confident that, with your skills and mine, we could infiltrate the Dali Temple and escape safely even if we failed to rescue the steward, I wouldn't have suggested it."

Xie Zheng asked, "Have you finished the military books I gave you?"

Fan Changyu unconsciously straightened her back like a student being called upon to recite a lesson.

"I've finished two of them. I've only just started the third."

"Which two did you read?"

Just as she was about to answer, a commotion erupted outside.

"Open up! Open the door!"

"Officer… this… this isn't appropriate! Everyone staying at this inn is a guest. How can you disturb their sleep in the middle of the night?"

"The Dali Temple has lost an important imperial prisoner. We're searching house by house. Anyone who obstructs us will be treated as an accomplice to the criminal!"

Both Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng were skilled martial artists with exceptionally sharp hearing. The moment they heard the commotion, their expressions darkened.

The officers had already entered the courtyard.

If they left now, they would certainly be discovered. If anyone recognized them, all their efforts tonight would have been for nothing.

As the approaching footsteps neared the room, Xie Zheng swiftly extinguished the candle with a flick of his sleeve.

Then he looked at Fan Changyu.

"Replace the hot tea in the teapot with the cold water from the washbasin."

Fan Changyu picked up the teapot, poured all the tea into a potted plant in the room, then filled it with cold water from the basin.

The tea had been prepared by the old innkeeper who had led them here. She had no idea what Xie Zheng was planning, but there was no time to ask questions, so she simply obeyed.

When she set the teapot back on the table, Xie Zheng was already feeling around near the bed and pressing some hidden mechanism.

A faint grinding sound came from moving stone slabs.

By the flickering torchlight filtering through the windows and door, Fan Changyu barely made out part of the bed sinking downward, revealing a concealed compartment just large enough for two people to lie inside.

Xie Zheng looked at her.

"Get in."

The moment Fan Changyu lay down, Xie Zheng activated the mechanism again and stepped inside.

The compartment was already no larger than a coffin. With another person squeezed in, it became unbearably cramped.

Their necks nearly touched, their shoulders pressed together. Even their breathing sounded unusually clear within the confined darkness.

Fortunately, the compartment was pitch-black. Neither could see the other's face. Otherwise, lying there one above the other, staring at each other, would have been far too awkward.

Fan Changyu could smell the faint scent of soapberry on Xie Zheng's clothes. Perhaps because it was the depths of winter, there was also a sharp, icy fragrance about him.

He didn't dare put all his weight on her and supported part of his body with one arm. Yet in such a cramped space, maintaining that position was clearly exhausting.

After a moment's hesitation, Fan Changyu said, "Why don't I take the top position?"

Even though she couldn't see a thing, she felt as though Xie Zheng had suddenly turned his head to look at her.

In the darkness, all her senses seemed heightened. The feeling of being watched by a beast grew increasingly intense, and the fine hairs on her arms stood on end.

When Xie Zheng grasped her waist, her entire body tensed.

After they laboriously switched positions, both were sweating.

Fan Changyu thought it must be because the air couldn't circulate. The tiny compartment was stiflingly hot.

She strained her ears, trying to listen to the sounds outside, but her heartbeat inexplicably accelerated.

She didn't know whether it was from nervousness or something else.

It pounded like a drum.

She suspected Xie Zheng could hear it.

Yet there seemed to be a drum inside his chest as well. Lying against him, she could hear it clearly.

It wasn't beating as fast as hers, but each thud was powerful, as though it were striking directly against someone's heart.

Xie Zheng's breathing remained steady.

Only the breath brushing against her ear seemed to be growing hotter.

Fan Changyu's ears were sensitive. Instinctively, she tried to move away.

But the moment she shifted slightly, Xie Zheng firmly pressed a hand onto her shoulder.

His voice remained calm, though lower and huskier than usual as he deliberately kept it quiet.

"Don't move."

At that exact moment, a loud crash came from outside.

The door had evidently been kicked open.

Fan Changyu immediately froze. Lying atop Xie Zheng, she focused all her attention on listening to the activity outside.

"Officer, this room is empty! No guests have stayed here yet!"

The innkeeper, who had been nervously accompanying them, visibly relaxed upon entering and seeing no signs that anyone had occupied the room.

The officer leading the search ignored him entirely.

He allowed his men to roughly open every chest and cabinet in the room. Even the bedding on the bed was thrown onto the floor after they felt lingering warmth within it.

Seeing them continue to examine the room, even checking decorative items as though searching for hidden compartments, the innkeeper wailed,

"Easy, officers, easy! Those are porcelain pieces from Ge Kiln! If they're broken, I won't be able to explain it to my master!"

The officer showed no intention of restraining his men.

He sat heavily in a chair and lifted the lid of the teapot on the table.

Inside the hidden compartment, Fan Changyu had just begun to relax when the soldiers moved away from the bed.

Then suddenly, the sound of porcelain shattering rang out, followed by an angry shout.

"How dare you!"

Fan Changyu jumped in alarm.

Without realizing it, she clenched Xie Zheng's clothing tightly.

Sensing her tension, Xie Zheng moved his hand from her shoulder to the back of her neck, pulling her closer against him.

His scorching fingers rested against her smooth skin.

Though there was nothing improper in the gesture, the heat alone made her instinctively shrink her neck.

The tip of her nose lightly brushed the skin at the side of his neck.

Xie Zheng's breathing instantly deepened.

Fan Changyu felt heat continuously radiating from his body.

Her hand rested against his chest. Even through the thin martial robe he wore, she could feel the dampness of sweat beneath.

Why was he sweating?

Was it simply because the compartment was too cramped and too hot with both of them inside?

Thinking she should quietly move away to give him more room to breathe, she tried to create a little distance.

But the hand on the back of her neck held her immovably in place like a branding iron, even tightening slightly.

Outside, the innkeeper's frightened voice sounded.

"Officer, what happened?"

Fan Changyu immediately abandoned the thought of moving and listened carefully.

The officer slammed a palm onto the round table.

"I've been searching for criminals all night and wanted a cup of hot tea. Not only is the tea in this pot cold, it doesn't even taste like tea anymore. How dare you show such disrespect?"

The innkeeper immediately understood the implication.

The soldiers of the Five Cities Military Command frequently used various excuses to extort money from merchants. Ordinary households had little to squeeze from them, but inns and taverns, places frequented by all sorts of people, were another matter. Even if no criminal was found, some form of tribute was expected.

Though the innkeeper still appeared terrified, his eyes had already calmed.

At once, he cursed loudly,

"Where has that lazy waiter run off to now? He didn't even replace the cold tea in this room?"

Then he bowed repeatedly toward the officer.

"Please calm your anger, Officer. Please calm your anger. I'll have someone prepare the finest tea in the inn for you immediately."

As he spoke, he discreetly slipped a money pouch into the officer's hand.

The officer weighed it briefly.

Only then did his anger subside somewhat.

"Forget it. I still have official duties to attend to. I don't have time to drink your tea."

With that, he stood and left.

The soldiers, having found nothing after turning the room upside down, followed behind him.

The innkeeper cast a brief glance toward the underside of the bed before bowing and closing the door behind him. He then accompanied the officer away, showering him with flattering remarks.

Inside the room, hearing the soldiers' footsteps gradually fade into the distance, Fan Changyu finally let out a long breath of relief.

Whether from the stuffiness or the heat, a fine sheen of sweat had formed on her forehead.

In a low voice, she said to Xie Zheng,

"They're gone."

The person beneath her didn't respond.

Feeling puzzled, Fan Changyu reached out and began feeling along the stone wall, searching for the mechanism that would open the compartment.

At that instant, the hand on the back of her neck suddenly tightened.

The force and fierce determination behind it inexplicably filled her with fear.

In the cramped space, resistance was impossible.

She was forced to lower her head.

Then her lips were seized in a fierce kiss.

It was a kiss filled with a possessiveness so intense it seemed he wanted to devour her whole. Her lips were claimed with overwhelming hunger, as though every trace of restraint had finally shattered.

Xie Zheng was like a wolf that had endured an entire brutal winter starving, staring at a piece of meat for three days without taking a bite.

And when the last thread of reason finally snapped, he could no longer suppress the hunger rising from the depths of his soul. At last, he bared his fangs and claimed his prey.